wow--I disagree about hotel upgrades, based on logic. Why would a hotel upgrade a crew member who will be guaranteed a room, reg or upgraded, as opposed to upgrading a loyal customer, who is paying far more for that room and will likely recall the upgrade when they book the next time, and maybe spend some more $ at that hotel?

I also disagree about seat upgrades, which has not necessarily made me popular here. Some airlines charge their employees more for business class--they can not, in good faith, upgrade OAL employees, to take the seat they do not offer to their employees w/out paying extra.
I have also amassed lots of miles which on my own airline, when I cash in, do not buy me an upgrade unless I spend extra--why would I expect the gate agent or flight crew upgrade an OAL employee to a business seat, when I am not entitled to that seat? AT least, a revenue pax with loyalty, would get a ahot at that seat instead of either of us??For example: I would not be entitled to a biz class seat on Northwest, nor would any OAL .
Discount online bookings are not particularly popular with hotels--in the upgrade realm, unless they are members of affinity programs, etc--Starwood, Marriott, etc. They seldom ever upgrade those customers because of their lack of loyalty--they want cheap $, they get cheap results.
My opinion...